Morocco Maduka, an ace Nigerian highlife musician, has passed away at 76.
Ikeme Mazeli, chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Anambra chapter, broke the sad news in a statement on Friday.
The statement said the veteran singer breathed his last on Thursday.
“With heavy heart of sorrow, we, the entire Anambra state PMAN, announce the exit of a music legend, Dr Prince Morocco Maduka Ozonweluibe,” the statement read.
“He passed on this afternoon (Thursday, October 29th, 2020). All other arrangements as regards his burial will be communicated to all of us later.”
A celebration in honour of his 60th anniversary as a professional musician was scheduled to hold in Anambra on March 6 and 7 but was later rescheduled for October 23 and 24 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It, however, did not hold.
Morocco Maduka, who was known as king of Ekpili music, started his music career at the age of 12.
He was held in high esteem as the oldest performing Igbo musician alive, having released about 120 albums before his demise.
His first album titled ‘Aya Nigeria’ (Nigerian War) was released in 1971.
In February, during an interview with The Sun Nigeria, Maduka had said he will retire from the music scene when he clocks 80.
“I will retire when I clock 80. I am now 76 years old, so when I clock 80, I will celebrate my birthday and then retire. That’s one of the plans I have,” he had said.
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